Grapple



May 6 1-924.

l. N. MERCER GHAPPLE Filed Feb. 8, 1923 I fig 3.

Patented May 6, 1924.

um'nzo STATES rza N. MERCER, or wELLsBuRo, WEST VIRGINIA.

GRAPPLE. 1 I "1 Application filed February 8, 1923. Serial No. 617,824.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, In N. MERCER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wellsburg, in the county of Brooke and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grapples, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates, in general terms, to grapples for use with cranes, derricks and overhead conveyors, and particularly it is designed to provide a grapple wherein shifting or accidental displacement of the load is prevented through the medium of clamping jaws, one of which is adapted to automatically exact a gripping and positive action commensurate with the weight of the load.

-My present invention is an improvement over a companion application, Serial No.

551,245, filed April 10, 1922, and consists essentially in the provision of means for facilitating the engagement ofa load; It

frequently occurs that the material to be lifted and transported is at some distance from the groundand it .is therefore desirable to so dispose the various elements of the grapple that the operator will not be required to devote his entire attentionto adjusting the apparatus. It is pointed out that -a grapple of this type is generally composed of from four to six clamping elements. P The principal objects of my invention,

' briefly stated, are; first, to provide a grapple the jaws of which are automatically. maintained in a positive gripping position with respect to a load through the'instrumentality of theload when the same israised from the ground; second,-t automatically hold the sliding jaw in selective inoperative position when the load has been released; and third, to automatically lock the immediate actuating mechanism in .-in-- operative. position when the load has been released.

. To, these and other ends, my invention .consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of partsdescribed herein-- ,after, illustrated in the drawings and pointed out in the claimsforming a part of this specification.

One embodiment of my invention is rep- Vresentedby way of example in the accom panying drawings, wherein:

, characters of reference desi nate like orsw similar parts, (1) designates the frame formed of two spaced apart parallel side beams or uprights (2) and (3), connected at their lower ends by a transverse bar j (4). The upper ends of the uprights (2) and (3)" are bolted 0r riveted between plates. ('5) formed each with opposed wings (6). Upon the lower ends ofeach of the uprights (2) and (3) are integrally'formed beveled teeth (7). which extend outwardly. at right angles 1frofin the uprights for disposition beneath. a

oa Y c The movable elementof my grapple consists of a beam .(8), arranged for sliding movement between the uprights (2) and (3). andthe plates This beam .is formed with racked side faces (9) and a racked rear face (10). Upon the lower end of the beam ,(8) is formed a beveled tooth(11) to coopdisposed 'U-shaped projection (14:) which houses a catch (15) pivotallv mounted on a pin (16) disposed through the sides of the projection. The catch (15) is provided with a bent portion '(17) for engagement in the racked face (10) of the beam (8). A leaf spring 18) "is formed on the upper end of the catch (15) and is seated against the rear plate (5) whereby to constantly force'the a catch into engagement with the beam (8) and retainv the same in immovable position. Pivotally mounted between adjacent wings "(6) of the plates (5) are levers (19), on the adjacent ends of which'are loosely mounted dogs (20) by means of bolts (21). The dogs 20) are'preferably formed with a plurality of teeth which'areadapted to cooperate with the racked side faces (9) of the beam/(8) when the lever-is actuated, Links (22) and (28) are secured to the dogs (20) by the bolts (21), and to each other, by the pin (24). The link (23) is bifurcated to form a shoulder (25) which receives the rounded face (26) of the link (22).

Coil springs (27) are attached to ring screws (28) on the uprights (2) and (3) and to projections (29) on the opposite ends of the levers (19). The levers (19) arealso provided with holes (30) for the reception of chains (31) which are united by a ring (32). A source of power (not shown) communicates with the ring (32).

It will be understood that the grapple herein described is but one of a similar group which may be connected by any appropriate means to a source of power. When it is desired to apply my grapple to a load the fixed elements or jaw is allowed to rest on the ground and it is not necessary that there 'be a slack in the chains (31) or the cable of the derrick. By exerting pressure with the hand on the catch (15) the sliding jaw or beam (8) becomes freely movable and when in approximate position the catch'is released to hold the beam immovable. When the sliding jaws are in inoperative position the fixed jaw is forced beneath the load. A slight upward touch given at the union of the links (22) and (23) to break the joint will cause them to assume the position shown in the dotted lines in Figure 1, when the dogs (20) are forced into engagement with the racked side faces of the movable jaw or beam.

When the chains (30) are drawn taut the levers (19) will be turned on their pivots and the dogs (20) will be thrust into engagement with the sliding'jaw to force the tooth (11) to firmly bind the load. The tension of the chains (31) will be dependent on the weight of the load" and the force exerted on the sliding jaw will consequently be proporfional to the weight of the load. When the grapple is to be disconnected the load is brought to rest, the springs (27) automatically causing the dogs (20) to be retracted,

the catch is manipulated and the sliding jaw may be raised a'few notches clear of the load. The fixed jaws are then removed from beneath the load and the grapple mm inoperative position, ready for application to another load.

'When'the weight of the load becomes passive the coil springs (27) will automatically withdraw the dogs from engagement with "the sliding jaw and will exert their force levers will then'be held in inoperative position by the links'so that when the grapple is suspended free of a load the actuating mechanism will remain clear of the sliding jaw. As a consequence the 1eafsprii1g"(' which actuates thecatch need only be of S11 ficient strength to withhold the: weight" of the sliding jaw and thereby allow it to be retained in a selective position. The catch acting as a ratchet will also prevent any re-' 7 the jaws will be securely held upon the load through the instrumentality of the catch, and the levers and dogs may resume then function without the grip on the load becoming displaced.

While in the foregoing there has been illustrated and described such combination and arrangement of elements as constitute the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is nevertheless desired to emphasize the fact that interpretation of the invention should only be conclusive when made in the light of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A grapple comprising a pair of jaws,

one of which is adapted for movement with respect to the other, means for locking the jaws in operative engagement when supporting a load and means for locking the i jaws in a selective inoperative position.

2. A grapple comprising cooperating load,

engaging members, means for actuating one of the load engaging member's and. means one of which is movable with respect to the other, means for actuating the movable jaw and means for holding the movable jaw in a.

selectiverelation to the stationaryjaw when the actuating means are in inoperative position. 7 V V 1r 4.. A. grapple comprismg a pan" of aws,

one of which'ismovable with respect to the? other, means for'actuating the movable'jaw means for retaining the movable jaw in in r I operative position, and means associated with the actuating means for holdingfsaid 7 actuating means in disengagement fromthe movable jaw.

5. A grapple comprising aframe formed with load engaging member's, plates attached V to the frame, a beam movably 'HlOlll'lt.

ed within the frame and between theplates, means for actuating" the beam, a bracket mounted on oneof the plates. and a catch carried by thebracket and adapted wengage the beam.

6. A grapplecomprising "a frame formed V with load engaging members, plates atta ched to the frame, a beam movablymountedwithinthe frame and between the b ackets, means for actuating the beam, abrack'et' carried by the plateretaining means, and a i catch pivotallv mounted on the; tracker,

said catch havinga Spring fo iniits p per portion and' 'ad'apted to act against "the plate whereby to cause the catch to engage the beam.

7. A grapple comprising a pair of jaws one of which is movable with respect to the other, opposed plates mounted on one end of the stationary jaw, actuating levers mounted on the plates for pivoted movement, means connecting the plates and 1evers for withdrawing the levers from operative position, and means for simultaneously actuating the levers and supporting the grapple.

8. A grapple comprising a pair of jaws, one of which is movable with respect to the other, opposed plates mounted on .one

end of the stationary jaw, levers pivotally mounted on the plates, dogs carried by the levers and adapted to actuate the movable jaw, cooperating links associated with the dogs, and means for actuating the levers.

9. A grapple comprising a pair of jaws one of which is movable with respect to the other, means for actuating the movable jaw,

plates secured to the free end of the stationary jaw, a bracket having a centrally raised U-shaped portion secured to one of the plates, a pin inserted through the sides of the U-shaped portion, a catch mounted on the pin and a leaf spring carried by the catch and adapted to act against the plate whereby to cause the catch to engage the movable jaw.

10. A grapple comprising a pair of jaws, one of which is movable with respect to the other, plates secured to the free ends of the stationary jaw, levers pivotally mount ed on opposite ends of the plates, dogs carried by the levers, cooperating links associated with the dogs and adapted to lock them in disengagement from the movable jaw, springs connecting the plate to the outer ends of the levers, and flexible means connecting the levers with a source of power.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

IZA N. MERGER. 

